Pat Cummins had a surprise in store when he named the Australia XI at Adelaide, with Steve Smith, who had stood in for him as captain for the first two Ashes Tests, not in the side. Here’s why he was left out.
Smith, who made 98 runs in the first two Tests and guided Australia into a 2-0 lead, was expected to hand the armband back to the returning Cummins, who had been suffering with a back stress injury. But he was named in the Australia XI for the game the day before play, and was at the Adelaide Oval on the morning of the third Test.
Why Steve Smith missed out
After leaving the ground, reports began to swirl that Smith would miss out, but exactly why wasn’t clear, with suggestions made that he had suffered an injury. In fact, he had been battling illness, with symptoms including nausea and dizziness, according to Cricket Australia. After close monitoring, they felt he was close to being able to play, but not deemed fully fit, with Usman Khawaja taking his place. CA stated that he is being tested for an inner ear issue, which Smith has suffered with in the past. They expect him to be available for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
For Khawaja, the return was an unexpected one, and in an unusual position. He began the series as Australia’s senior opener, despite concerns over his recent struggles against fast bowling. A back issue limited his participation in the first Test and ruled him out of the second, with Travis Head making a scintillating century at Perth to stake a claim for the opener’s spot. While Khawaja returned to fitness to be considered for Adelaide, Australia originally opted not to change a top seven that had helped post 511 at the Gabba.
Why Khawaja isn’t opening
Smith’s illness opened the door for Khawaja to return, but Australia chose not to install him as opener, instead retaining Head and new man Jake Weatherald. Weatherald, who debuted at Perth, made 72 at the Gabba as he and Head raced to 77-0 after 13 overs, their second successive rapid 70-plus opening stand. While Cummins didn’t explain why Australia had effectively reshuffled their batting order, it’s likely they were reluctant to dilute Head and Weatherald’s tone-setting abilities as a pair, while also wanting to protect Khawaja, rather than have him open up soon after he found he was playing. In the end, Khawaja was still in inside 10 overs as Head and Weatherald fell within six balls of each other.
Other changes to Australia’s XI: Neser unlucky as Cummins and Lyon return
As already confirmed, Australia made two other changes to their XI, Cummins and Nathan Lyon returning in place of Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser. Neser in particular was hard done by, having claimed five-for at the Gabba, but with Cummins back fit, Lyon returning as the ball switched from pink to red, and Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland the senior men, he was always likely to be one of the two to miss out.
Australia XI for Adelaide Ashes Test: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
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